Abstract: A fire suppressing gas generator includes a cylindrical housing comprising an array of discharge ports distributed generally uniformly therearound; a cylindrical filter disposed within the housing and spaced from the interior wall of the housing; a plurality of azide-based propellant grains inside the cylindrical filter; and at least one ignition device associated with the propellant grains. The propellant grains when ignited by the ignition device generate a fire suppressing gas which passes through the filter and out of the discharge ports of the cylindrical housing for delivery into a space.

Abstract: A method comprises capturing image frames of an input area using a plurality of imaging devices, each having a field of view encompassing at least a portion of the input area; processing captured image frames to identify a plurality of targets therein; analyzing the identified plurality of targets to determine if the targets represent a plurality of projections of an input object; and if so, identifying a pattern of the projections thereby to identify the input object.

Abstract: A method of displaying input during a collaboration session, comprises providing a canvas for receiving input from at least one participant using a computing device joined to the collaboration session; and displaying the canvas at one of a plurality of discrete zoom levels on a display associated with the computing device.

Abstract: A method comprises generating at least two input events in response to at least two contacts made by pointers on an interactive surface at a location corresponding to at least one graphical object; determining a pointer contact type associated with the at least two input events; determining the number of graphical objects selected; identifying a gesture based on the movement of the pointers; identifying a manipulation based on pointer contact type, number of graphical objects selected, movement of the pointers, and graphical object type; and performing the manipulation on the at least one graphical object.

Abstract: A passive touch system includes a passive touch surface and at least two cameras associated with the touch surface. The at least two cameras acquire images of the touch surface from different locations and have overlapping fields of view. A processor receives and processes images acquired by the at least two cameras to detect the existence of a pointer therein and to determine the location of the pointer relative to the touch surface. Actual pointer contact with the touch surface and pointer hover above the touch surface can be determined.

Abstract: A pen tool for use with an interactive input system comprises an elongate body, at least one switch assembly accommodated by the body and a controller accommodated by the body and communicating with the at least one switch assembly. The at least one switch assembly is actualable when the pen tool is brought into contact with an input surface of the interactive input system. The controller is responsive to actuation of the at least one switch assembly. The at least one switch assembly comprises a contact circuit and a plunger assembly having a conductive element thereon that is generally aligned with the contact circuit. The plunger assembly is moveable into the body to bring the conductive element into contact with the contact circuit thereby actuate the at least one switch assembly.

Abstract: A desktop sharing system and method are provided. A desktop sharing application permits a selected display region on a first computer's desktop to be shared with other computers. The desktop sharing application permits another computer to assume control and share a selected display region of the other computer's desktop during a conference.

Abstract: An interactive input system comprises at least two imaging assemblies capturing image frames of a region of interest from different vantages, each imaging assembly comprising an image sensor and signal processing circuitry implemented on an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), image data acquired by the image sensor being pre-processed by the signal processing circuitry; and processing structure processing pre-processed image data output by the imaging assemblies to determine the location of at least one pointer within the region of interest.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a pointer includes a waveguide and a touch surface over the waveguide on which pointer contacts are to be made. At least one reflecting device extends along a first side of the waveguide and touch surface. The reflecting device defines an optical path between the interior of the waveguide and the region of interest above the touch surface. At least one imaging device looks across the touch surface and into the waveguide. The imaging device captures images of the region of interest and within the waveguide including reflections from the reflecting device.

Abstract: A pen tool for use with a machine vision interactive input system comprises an elongate body, a tip on the body and a variable reflector disposed on the body. The variable reflector comprises a reflecting portion and an attenuating portion configured to control the amount of illumination reflected by the reflecting portion.